Pneumatic closure for multicompartment receptacle



y 19, 1964 c. o. SLEMMONS 3,133,575

PNEUMATIC CLOSURE FOR MULTICOMPARTMENT RECEPTACLE Filed June 19, 1963 2Sheets-Sheet 1 I k I lNVENTOR Charles O.Slemmons BY 71:12. W,mw

ATTORNEYS May 19, 1964 c. o. SLEMMONS 3,133,575

PNEUMATIC CLOSURE FOR MULTICOMPARTMENT RECEPTACLE Filed June 19, 196.3 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 52 59 Charles 0. slemmons 5 m 2 WWW 55 5% J8 5ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,133,575 PNEUMATIC CLOSURE FORMULTICOMPART- MENT RECEPTACLE Charles O. Slemmons, Akron, Ohio, assignorto The General Tire 8: Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio, at corporation ofOhio Filed June 19, 1963, Ser. No. 289,026 8 Claims. (Cl. 150-1) Thisinvention relates to pneumatic closure devices and more particularly toa pneumatic closure for sealing the access end of a multicompartmentconcrete mix receptacle for transporting the ingredients of the concretemix to the location where the charge is to be mixed and poured.

It is desirable in multicompartment concrete mix receptacles of the typehaving a water-proof inner compart ment for receiving dry cement and aWater-proof outer compartment for receiving water and aggregate such asthat shown in US. patent application of Darling et al., Serial No.153,024, filed November 17, 1961, that the access end of eachcompartment have a means for providing an air-tight seal. This isessential in order to prevent evaporation of water in the compartmentcontaining the water and aggregate, and to prevent moisture fromcontacting the dry cement in the cement compartment.

Heretofore, closure devices on multicompartment concrete mix receptacleshave been of the sleeve type wherein a flexible fabric sleeve isattached to the opening of each compartment to provide a guide channelfor charging the compartment with mix. After the compartments werecharged, the sleeves were folded back against the access end of thereceptacle.

An improvement over this arrangement is shown in the US.patent'application of Beck, Serial No. 262,032, filed March 1, 1963,wherein an inflatable sealing device is used to close the access to eachcompartment and provide a greatly improved sealing of the receptacle.

The closure of the present invention is an improvement over thestructure shown in application Serial No. 262,032, and provides for amore convenient operation of the closure and a lower cost construction.The closure utilizes a flat metal plate that cooperates with an annularpneumatic bag which expands both inwardly and out- .wardly when inflatedto seal the outer compartment and also to seal the flat metal plate overthe access to the inner compartment. Thus, when suflicient air pressureis introduced into the bag, the walls of the bag will engage both thesurfaces defining the access or throat to the outer compartment and theedges of the circular plate which seals the access or throat to theinner compartment.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a closure for amulticompartment concrete mix receptacle which may be used to provide anair-tight seal for the compartments of the receptacle once thereceptacle has received its charge and which may be easily opened topermit the contents of the receptacle to be dumped.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a closure for amulticompartment concrete mix receptacle which is of simple, low costconstruction and which requires special equipment to operate so as toprevent accidental or inadvertent opening of the compartments.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a pneumaticclosure for a multicompartment concrete mix receptacle which may beinstalled in the access to the receptacle and which may be easilyinflated to seal the compartments once the receptacle is charged, anddeflated when it is desired to dump the the charge for mixing.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a pneumaticclosure for a multicompartment concrete mix receptacle of the typehaving an annular outer compartment and a circular inner compartmentlocated within said outer compartment, which is arranged to'seal thecompartments independently of one another to prevent evaporation ofwater in the compartment containing water and aggregate, and to preventthe entry of moisture into the compartment containing the dry cement.

The multicompartment concrete mix receptacle of the type for which theclosure of the present invention is designed generally has an outertubular wall which is composed of rubber reinforced with a plurality ofplies of tire fabric and which has inwardly extending ends, terminatingin inextensible beads to which end closures may be connected. Thereceptacle is divided into inner and outer compartments by an innertubular wall of rubber which is sealed from the outer wall by connectionat its opposite ends to such end closures.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming part ofthis specification in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation with parts broken away, of amulticompartment receptacle having a pneumatic closure embodying theinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal central section on an enlarged scale of apneumatic closure embodying the present invention showing the pneumaticbag in its inflated condition;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal central section showing thearrangement for clamping the flexible pneumatic bag material to theinner ring of the frame;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal central section of a pneumatic closureembodying the present invention, showing the pneumatic bag in itscollapsed or deflated condition;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the device of thepresent invention showing the inflation valve being engaged by aninflating tool; FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal central sectionshowing the inflation valve located in the outer ring of the closurebeing engaged by a hexagonal socket wrench for deflation of thepneumaticbag.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown amulticompartment receptacle of the general type for which the pneumaticclosure of the present invention I copending application Serial No.153,024, referred to above.

The receptacle has an inner flexible tubular wall 5 of elastic rubberthat extends axially of the receptacle to divide the same into an innercompartment 6 and an outer compartment 7 that surrounds the compartment6. The inner wall 5 has a cylindrical body portion with an inturned endportion 8 clamped to a closure plate at the end of the receptacleopposite the access opening, through- -out its circumference. Normally,water and aggregate, in

a measured quantity to provide a desired concrete mix, are poured intothe outer compartment 7, and dry cement, also of a measured quantity toprovide a desired concrete mix, is poured into the inner compartment 6.

When it is desired to empty the compartments for mixing the dry cement,water and aggregate, the receptacle may be carried by an eye 9 at thebottom of the receptacle and supported in an inverted position while theingredients are dumped into a concrete mixer.

Located at the access end of the receptacle is a closure A embodying thepresent invention as best shown in FIGURES 2 and 4. The closurecomprises a frame as sembly broadly indicated by the numeral 10 formounting the closure members. The frame assembly includes an outerannular ring 11 to which the outer wall 1 of the receptacle is attached.The frame ring 11 has an inwardly flanged portion 12 which defines acircular opening forming a throat 13 (FIGURE 4) for the outercompartment 7. Located in the flanged portion 12 are circular openings14 for receiving bolts 15 which engage a spider member 16. The spidermember 16 includes an outer ring 17 which engages the flange 12 of theframe ring 11 and which serves to clamp the end portion 3 of the outertubular wall to the frame ring, a series of downwardly and inwardlyextending radiating bars or rods 18, and an inner ring 19 supported bysaid bars or rods 18. The inner ring 19 forms an inner wall for thethroat 13 of the outer compartment 7 as shown in FIGURE 4, and the outerwall of the throat 20 of the inner compartment 6. The Wall of the innercompartment 6 is attached to the outer portion of the inner spider ring19 by circular bands 21 which compress a portion of the rubber materialinto annular grooves 22 in the ring 19.

Attached to the inner spider ring 19 is a flexible annular pneumatic bag23 preferably formed of a rubber coated fabric material. The bag ispreferably formed from a continuous rubber sleeve having circular beads24 and 25 suitably reinforced with bead wires embedded therein.

In assembled relation, the beads 24 and 25 fit tightly against the outerwall of the inner spider ring 19, forming an air-tight seal. The bead 24fits in an annular groove 26 at the upper end portion of the innerspider ring 19. A circular retaining ring 27 holds the beaded portion ofthe bag 23 tightly in the groove 26. The retaining ring 27 is bolted tothe inner spider ring 19 by machine screws 28 which engage threadedopenings in the ring 19.

The bead 25 fits in an annular groove 29 in the inner spider ring 19 asbest shown in FIGURE 3, and is retained in position by a circularretaining ring 30. The retaining ring 30 is bolted to the inner spiderring 19 by machine screws 31 which engage threaded openings in the ring19.

A closure plate 33, preferably formed of metal, fits over the access endof the inner throat 20. In closed position the peripheral edge portionsof the plate 33 engage the upper ends of the machine screws 28 as bestshown in FIGURES 2 and 3. A U-shaped handle 34 is welded to the plate 33to provide a convenient hand grip for positioning or removing the plate.An eye 35 is welded to the bottom surface of the plate and is attachedto a chain 36 which is welded to the wall of the inner spider ring asshown in FIGURES 2 and 4. The chain provides a convenient means foranchoring the plate 33 to the receptacle when the pneumatic bag 23 isdeflated and the receptacle is inverted for dumping.

When the pneumatic bag is inflated with the plate in position at theaccess to the inner throat, the walls of the bag expand outwardly andengage the outer spider ring 17, thus providing an air-tight seal forthe outer throat 13 as shown in FIGURE 2. The Walls of the bag alsoexpand inwardly to sealingly engage the peripheral edge and the marginalportion of the top face of the closure plate 33, thus firmly holding theclosure plate 33 in position over the access to the inner compartmentandproviding an air-tight seal for the inner throat 20. When deflated, thebag 23 collapses to the position shown in FIG- URE 4 and the closureplate 33 may be moved from its throat closing position, thus providingan access to and from both the inner and outer compartments.

Located in the outer frame ring 11 is an inflation valve 37 shown indetail in FIGURES 5 and 6, which may be used to either inflate ordeflate the pneumatic bag 23. The internal portion of the valve isconnected to a steel tube 38 extending from the frame ring 11, throughan opening 39 in the inner spider ring 19 as shown in FIG- URES 2 and 4.The tube 38 is welded in the opening 39 to provide a water-tight sealbetween the inner spider ring 19 and the tube 38. The outer end of thetube 38 is welded in an opening 40 in the outer spider ring 17 toprovide a water-tight seal.

An elbow 41 connects the inner end of the tube 38 to another shortlength of tube 42. Attached to the other end of the tube 42 is a secondelbow 44 which in turn is connected to a short length of pipe 45 weldedto provide an air-tight seal in an opening 46 in the inner spider ring19, intermediate the grooves 26 and 29, which receive the circular beads24 and 25. This arrangement forms an air passage from the valve 37 tothe pneumatic bag 23 and provides a convenient means for inflating ordeflating the pneumatic bag through the valve 37.

In assembled relation, the valve 37 is recessed below the top of theframe ring 11 and within a protected chamber 50 formed therein toprevent accidental activation of a valve pin assembly 51.

The valve includes a base member 52 which has an opening 54 forreceiving the tube 38. A rubber O ring 55 mounted on the tube 38 fits inan annular groove in the opening 54 to seal the base 52 on the tube 38.The opening 54 provides access to an inner cavity 56 formed in the base52. The base also has a second opening 57 formed by a circular inturnedflange 58, which is adapted to receive the valve pin assembly 51 whenthe valve is closed.

Mounted on the base and surrounding the opening 57 is a cylindricalcover 59 which extends upwardly from the base and forms a cylindricalchamber 60. The cover 59 is tightly fitted to the base 52 to provide atight seal, and has an inwardly coned circular flange 61 at its endopposite the base 52 which forms a circular opening 62.

Mounted within the chamber is the valve pin assembly 51 which isarranged to seal the opening 57 when the valve is closed. The valve pinassembly 51 includes a central shaft 63 having a hexagonal head 64 atone end, adapted to be received in a hexagonal socket of the propersize.

Mounted on the shaft 63 adjacent the head 64 is a fiat circular washer65 adapted to engage, at its outer edge portion, a coil spring 66. Thespring 66 bears against the base 52 and is arranged to bias the valvepin assembly to the valve open position. The spring is of a proper sizeto fit within the chamber 60 and adjacent the walls of the cylindricalcover 59.

Mounted on the shaft 63 adjacent the washer 65 is a circular grommet 67preferably formed of a resilient sealing material such as rubber orother suitable elastomer. The grommet 67 has an outwardly flanged endportion 68 which bears against the washer 65, and a narrower cylindricalportion 69 of a proper size to fit through the opening 57.

At the end of the shaft 63 adjacent the grommet 67 is a cam member 70mounted for rotation with the grommet 67 relative to the shaft 63. Thecam member 70 is retained on the shaft 63 by a pin 71 extendingtransversely through the shaft 63 and engaging the cammed surfaces ofthe cam member 69. The camrning surfaces have a helicoidal form wherebyturning the hexagonal head 64 clockwise moves the cam member 70 upwardon the shaft 63 and squeezes the grommet 67.

To inflate the pneumatic bag 23 through the valve 37, a suitableinflation tool 72 such as that shown in FIGURE 5 is brought into sealingengagement with the flange 61. With the valve in open position,compressed air is then forced through the tool 72, into the cavity 56and thus, into the pneumatic bag 23 to inflate the bag to its sealingcondition.

A hexagonal socket 73 rotatably mounted in the tool 72 is then placedover the hexagonal head 64 and the valve pin assembly 51 depressed topush the cam member 69 and the narrower portion 68 of the grommet 67through the circular opening 57 in the base 52. In this position theoutwardly flanged end portion 68 of the grommet 67 engages the inturnedflange 58 which forms the circular opening 57.

With the valve pin assembly thus depressed, the socket 73 is rotatedclockwise to turn the shaft 63. The cam member 70 is held againstrotation with the shaft 63 by friction between the grommet 67 and washer65, between the washer 65 and spring 66 and between the cam member 70and the grommet 67, and the-cam member 70 is moved upward to expand thegrommet radially outwardly by turning movement of the shaft 63 in thegrommet 67 and thus seal the grommet 67 in the opening 57 as shown inFIGURE 5.

To deflate the bag 23, a hexagonal socket wrench 74 of the proper sizemay be placed over the head 64 as shown in FIGURE 6, and turnedcounterclockwise. This rotates the pin 71 relative to the cam member 70and moves the cam member 70 toward the end of the shaft 63. With thepressure against the grommet 67 released, the cylindrical portion 69returns to its normal diameter. The valve pin assembly then moves upwardthrough the circular opening 57 and the compressed air within theclosure is released.

It will be understood that the above description is by way ofillustration rather than limitation and that variations andmodifications of the specific device herein shown and described may bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A pneumatic closure device for a multicompartment concrete mixreceptacle with an inner compartment and an outer compartment,comprising a frame assembly forming an outer throat for entry into saidouter compartment and an inner throat within said outer throat for entryinto said inner compartment; a removable closure plate adapted to closesaid inner throat and an inflatable pneumatic bag mounted Within saidouter throat and arranged to expand within said outer throat wheninflated to seal said outer compartment and to expand radially inwardlyagainst said closure plate to seal said inner compartment.

2. A pneumatic closure device for a multicompartment concrete-mixreceptacle with an inner compartment and an outer compartment,comprising a frame assembly forming an outer throat for entry into saidouter compartment and an inner throat within said outer throat for entryinto said inner compartment; an inflatable pneumatic bag of rubbercoated material mounted within said' outer throat and arranged to expandwhen inflated to seal said outer compartment; means cooperating withsaid inflatable pneumatic bag for sealing said inner compartment, saidmeans comprising a plate adapted to close said inner throat and arrangedfor sealing engagement with said pneumatic bag when said bag isinflated.

3. A pneumatic closure device for a multicompartment concrete mixreceptacle with an inner compartment and an outer compartment comprisinga frame assembly having a continuous rigid outer wall forming an outerthroat for entry into said outer compartment and a continuous rigidinner Wall forming an inner throat for entry into said innercompartment, said frame assembly having an annular inflatable pneumaticbag mounted within said outer throat and arranged to expand within saidouter throat to seal said outer compartment and to collapse whendeflated to provide entry into said outer compartment; means forinflating said pneumatic bag and removable means cooperating with saidpneumatic bag for closing said inner throat to seal said innercompartment upon inflation of said pneumatic bag.

4. A device as defined in claim 3 wherein said removable means forclosing said inner throat comprises a plate adapted to engage said rigidinner wall and arranged for sealing engagement with said inflatablepneumatic bag.

5. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein said inflating means comprisesa valve located in said rigid outer wall and an air conduitcommunicating from said valve to said pneumatic bag for introducingcompressed air through said valve into said pneumatic bag.

6. In combination, a multicompartment concrete mix receptacle formed offlexible rubber coated fabric material and having an inner compartmentand an outer compartment, and a pneumatic closure for said receptaclecomprising a frame assembly forming an outer throat for entry into saidouter compartment and an inner throat within said outer throat for entryinto said inner com partment, an inflatable pneumatic bag of rubbercoated material mounted within said outer throat and arranged to expandwithin said outer throat when inflated to seal said outer compartment,removable means cooperating with said pneumatic bag for closing saidinner throat to seal said inner compartment; and means for inflatingsaid pneumatic bag.

7. A combination as defined in claim 6 wherein said inflating meanscomprises a valve mounted in said frame, external to said outer throatand an air conduit communicating from said valve to said pneumatic bag.

8. A pneumatic closure device of the type herein described comprising aframe assembly having an outer ring and an inner ring supported withinsaid outer ring, said rings defining an annular outer throat and acentral opening, an inflatable pneumatic bag mounted within said outerthroat and arranged to expand when inflated to seal said outer throat,means providing a closure for said central opening, said means beingadapted for sealing engagement with said pneumatic bag when said bag isinflated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. A PNEUMATIC CLOSURE DEVICE FOR A MULTICOMPARTMENT CONCRETE MIXRECEPTACLE WITH AN INNER COMPARTMENT AND AN OUTER COMPARTMENT,COMPRISING A FRAME ASSEMBLY FORMING AN OUTER THROAT FOR ENTRY INTO SAIDOUTER COMPARTMENT AND AN INNER THROAT WITHIN SAID OUTER THROAT FOR ENTRYINTO SAID INNER COMPARTMENT; A REMOVABLE CLOSURE PLATE ADAPTED TO CLOSESAID INNER THROAT AND AN INFLATABLE PNEUMATIC BAG MOUNTED WITHIN SAIDOUTER THROAT AND ARRANGED TO EXPAND WITHIN SAID OUTER THROAT WHENINFLATED TO SEAL SAID OUTER COMPARTMENT AND TO EXPAND RADIALLY INWARDLYAGAINST SAID CLOSURE PLATE TO SEAL SAID INNER COMPARTMENT.